Information Management Workgroup Brief Presentation 03/09/06

Mendocino Coast Cooperative Weed Management Area

Information Management Workgroup Brief Presentation

Thursday, March 9, 2006

Accomplishments
1. Maps provided for weed distribution mapping at public meetings (Anderson Valley).
2. Preparation of a coarse-scale map of weed distribution by presence/absence in sections is in progress. All of the information from the Experts Mapping Workshop has been incorporated, but needs to be verified.
3. Creation of weed occurence records in the Weed Information Mapping System is in progress.
4. Restructured the MCWMA website file structure.
5. Procedure developed for placing species on roadside survey form.
6. Roadside survey form and instructions published on website and distributed.
7. Obtained GIS layer for vegetation type in Mendocino County for responding to questions about invasive weed threats to specific habitat types.
8. Obtained distribution maps on noxious weeds from CDFA.
9. Information Management Workgroup meeting held February 23, 2006 ;
  - Completed Information Management Element of the Draft Strategic Plan;
  - A screening procedure for species based on distribution characteristics was developed, for the purpose of categorizing species according to management goals. The procedure has been included in the Draft Strategic Plan.
  - The draft site-oriented survey protocol for volunteers developed by Matt Gerhart was reviewed. Specifications for a protocol for a professional-level survey were developed. Tasks and target dates for further development of these protocols were assigned.
  - Next Information Management Workgroup meeting will be held online in the MCWMA Chat Room, Thursday, March 23, 2006 10AM-2PM.
Plans
1. Use volunteers or interns to assist in digitizing weed occurrence geographical information.
2. Incorporate GPS use into volunteer surveys as a motivator.
Needs (if you can assist with any of these items, please contact Tara Athan at coord@mcwma.org)
1. In the Weed Information Management System, create a definition of your Management Area, export to a spreadsheet and submit by e-mail. This is needed for documenting weed occurrences. Contact Tara if you need assistance.
2. Teams of 2 needed to test the roadside survey protocol and implement the roadside survey.
3. Additional weed distribution information requested.